HOKITIKA BOROUGH COUNCIL.

Hokitika Guardian, 12 April 1924, Page 2

HOKITIKA BOROUGH COUNCIL.

FRIDAY, APBIL 11th. The Council met at 7.30 p.m. Present; Messrs G. A. Perry (Mayor), H. M. Coulson, J. King, I). J. Evans, B. F. Perliam, IV. I). Mackey and G. Heinz. The minutes were confirmed and outward correspondence approved. INWARD COBBESPONDEXCK. From J. Lloyd asking for four months leave of absence.—Received and request granted. Frdm District Public Trustee forwarding statement of abattoir loan account.—Received. From Athletic and Cycling Club applying for permission to bold annual sports on Cass Square on Easier Tues-day.—-Received and request granted subject to payment of 10 per cent of gate receipts. From Magistrate’s Court Office notifying fees and fines for quarter, payable to Council, amounted 'o £l-1 os.— Received. From Department of Health asking for notice to be sent in reference to repairs required to a tenement.—-Re-ceived.

From Ivanieri Electric Coy. promising attention to letter re lighting on return of (manager, who was absent.— Received.

From H. McLean applying for permission to show pictures on Good Friday night.—Received. Mr Perliam moved that the request be granted. Seconded by Mr Heinz. After discussion the motion was agreed to. Air Coulson dissenting.

From A. McArthur and G. L. McCollum for connection with the water supply.—Received and requests granted on tlie usual conditions. From AY. J. Sliand applying for permission to cross the footpath with a drain pipe.— Received and request granted on usual conditions. From Westland County Council stating the Council’s letter re grant tor cemetery bad been referred 1.0 the Fmnnee Committee to report.— Received. From Westland Hospital Board notifving proposed levy of £559 11 Ud Borough for year.— Received and referred to Finance Committee to re-

' From c. H. Brendt and K. A remit applying for approaches to their property .—Received and requests granted on 1 lie usual conditions. REPORTS. From Treasurer reporting receipts £l3ll 8s sd, payments £GoB 5s 2d, credit balance £657 4s fid. Loan account credit £2OO 19s 4d.—Received. The Finance Committee recommended payment of accounts amounting to £724 3s lid; that application be made to the Government for a iurtlier sum of £2.00!) on the loan account.—Received and adopted. From Manager Abattoirs (Mr J. Jarman), reporting there wore examined during March 20 cows, 28 heifers. -3 bullocks. 322 sheep, 123 lambs. 8 pigs, 7 calves. Condemned 2 cows. 1 ox. Fees for period £BO 16s.—Received. Hie Sexton’s report was read and received. OVERSEER’S REPORT. I beg to .submit the following report no work done during the past month. Weld Street has taken up a considerable (onion of our time. This Street bus horn graded on both sides between Ben ley Street and Sale Street, a distame oT about twenty chains, most of the spoil being carted on to Cass Square, the remainder used lor filling hollow places on the sides. The Street lias been increased in width; about ten foot with river gravid and the section between Dealer and Brittan Street is almost completed, pit gravel has been used to nude: a good crown, to be finished off with a coating of beach shingle. Two men have been employed for a week on the two south roads, raking in ruts. South Spit Hoad will require gravelling in jdaees before long, as it is showing signs of wear. Blackberry and gor.se has been cut in Spencer and Tedor Streets and drains cleaned in Stafford ami Sewell Streets. Six inch pipes have been laid in Bealev Street for a distance of 7 chains from, Stafford Street towards Hampden Stieec. residences connected and growth cleared and covered with gravel.

During the month the water supply showed a falling off, the cause being a burst pipe on Tucker Flat; a number of clamps were placed around the pipe and it is now tight. Two trips have been made over the lino from Reservoir to Lake and leaks stopped and air valves attended to, during the month an. extra large amount of leakage in the Town service has been attended to and the supply is now satislac.ory. Throe men have been engaged most of the month making concrete pipes, and during the latter part one man has been engaged laying pipes in Stile Street drain making drain connections and putting in a manhole. I visited the Cemetery on two occasions. A good deal of cleaning up of footpaths has been done and some new ground prepared since last month. The Sexton requires Li chains of 9 in-li pipes to take storm water off ground to allow of mere ground being prepared. During the month two new water connections* have been made, one approach to a residence completed and the usual street cleaning and general maintenance work attended to. Received and recommendations to be given effect to..

PUBLIC WORKS HERO!

At it meeting of the I’ll! lie Works Committee held on tie 10th. idem., it wa.s decided to make the following reooirimondatiuns, viz: -

(1) Re Sewell Street sewer—-That the Health Department, he written to and asked to recommend a competent sewerage Engineer and that on the receipt of their reply the Engineer recommended be written to and asked under what terms and conditions be would visit Hokitika and submit a. report with estimate of cost for a complete sewerage scheme for the Borough of Hokitika.

(2) That the Railway Department., lie written to drawing their attention to the dangeious condition of the railway line laid up Gibson’s Quay owing to the sleepers and rails being laid above the road and that it he pointed out. in the letter that one ol the conditions verbally agreed upon by the Council and their engineer when an inspection of the route was made was i.,at the sleepers would be laid at road level.

(.I) That the Railway Department’s attention be drawn to the danger to the traffic at the Park Street railway crossing and that they bo requested to either remove the semaphore front it s present position to ihe Park Street crossing or to erect a signal of some description to warn traffic of the approach of trains from both sides of Pane Street..

(4) Re erection of Street lamp corner of Gibson’s Quay and Livingstone Street. After careful consideration your Committee beg to reoomemnd that at present no action be taken. (5) That on his next complete inspection of the Borough the Inspector he instructed to take a census of all hose taps and patent "W.C.'s in the Borough.

A general discussion took place on Clause 1. Ultimately a suggestion by Mr Evans that an endeavour be made to secure a visit of the engineer ol the Christchurch Drainage Board to cuii-

for wit! the Council on the subject prior to taking any action, was approved, and this clause heid over. The report as a whole as amended was then agreed to.

RESERVES COMMITTEE REPORT. 1. The Cimnittee has had some attention paid to Cass Square, including the filling of holes on the football field, ' the* improvement of the south-west corner of the cycling track to avoid a recurrence of accidents in racing; and the cutting of the grass for which the* Racing Club loaned the horse mower which was operated by the Borough horse and man. Useful work was done

and the Square shows a marked improvement. The experience suggests that the grass should Ik' cut- more ficquently and by keeping it short the grass will be more satisfactory for games and pastimes.

2. It is suggested the Council should acquire a more suitable horse mower for the foregoing purpose to he worked regularly as required, by the Borough horse and men. The machine could be used to advantage also on» ninny of the side streets which become overgrown, and by being kept trim would present a more sightly appearance.

3. An assistant for a week is recommended to clean un Cass Square and Mneandrew Square rrior to the holidays. after which no extra labor should lie required for an indefinite period, though it will he uotessniy to use-the Borough dray to art in sand and tilling for the general levelling up of the grounds. •1. It is recommended that the fences surrounding the corner plots in Cass Square ho removed, and the plots kop.t trim and neat as is the ease with the plot so prepared already ny way ot an experiment.

5. The flower plots on Cass Square, Ma androw Square and the Pioneers’ Memorial., it is suggested should he tended more regularly so as to present a mere regular show of bloom. Also that the two memorial trees in Stafford Street he attended to and supplied with

good soil and manure. 6. As soon as the Town Clerk has prepared the revaluation of the Borough reserves it is reeomiiien tied the Council should meet in Committee of the whole to fix the annual rental on a 5% basis of the land value. Also, to grant more i-ormanent titles of occupation to the tenants to encourage improvements to the arc’s. -—Received and adopted.

NOTICE OF MOTION. Mr Evans moved :—“That pursuant to the provisions of Section 23 of the Main Highways Act, 1922. the Council apply to the Alain Highways Board, Wellington, for a subsidy towards the maintenance and repair of the streets of Hokitika, not being a main highway. but being a continuation of the main highway as used within the Borough boundaries, for the arterial road from the North and to the South.”— Seconded by Mr Perliam and carried. It was resolved.that Anzac Day be observed oil linos similar to those of the previous year, and that the next meeting of the Council lie held on Thursday, April 24th. The Council rose at 9.45 p.m.